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Corn crop the best in 11 years

Seventy-five percent of the nation’s corn is in good or better condition, marking the best corn crop reported in the USDA’s Crop Progress report since 2003.

Release Date

Very Poor

Poor

Fair

Good

Excellent

June 30, 2014

1

4

20

55

20

July 1, 2013

2

6

25

51

16

July 2, 2012

7

15

30

40

8

July 5, 2011

3

6

22

52

17

June 28, 2010

2

6

19

54

19

June 29, 2009

2

5

21

54

18

June 30, 2008

3

8

28

47

14

July 2, 2007

2

5

20

53

20

July 3, 2006

3

6

23

51

17

July 5, 2005

4

9

25

45

17

June 28, 2004

2

6

21

52

19

June 30, 2003

1

4

20

56

19

However, drought and flooding have caught up to corn in some states. In Minnesota, where persistent rains have flooded countless acres of corn and soybeans, 10 percent of the corn crop is in poor or very poor condition.

“Corn and soybeans can typically handle up to 48 hours underwater and come out of it, but we’re past that point already and there’s still a lot of lakes out in these fields,” University of Minnesota Extension educator Liz Stahl told the Star Tribune in mid-June.

Kansas corn crop also is struggling, with 9 percent in poor or worse condition. Currently 83 percent of the state’s corn is growing within an area experiencing drought, thought conditions have been steadily improving thanks to a wet June.

The USDA also reported corn silking for the first time this season. Five percent of corn is now silking, 4 percentage points below the five-year average but 2 percentage points above last year’s progress.

Soybeans, on the other hand, are closer to average. Currently 10 percent of the country’s soybeans have bloomed, on par with the five-year average and more than triple last year’s report.

Like corn, soybean conditions have surpassed last year’s report. Currently 72 percent of soybeans are in good or better condition, compared to 67 percent in 2013.

In particular, two states have reported struggling soybeans. In Louisiana, 11 percent of soybeans are in poor or very poor condition. Minnesota’s soybeans are also struggling, with 10 percent of the state’s soybeans in poor or worse condition.